410 BOKER. 



they fix themselves, and in no long time devour the whole 

 of the soft materials, so as to leave nothing but the bones 

 and skin, which remain untouched. One or two of these 

 creatures may be sufficient to effect this destruction; but where 

 the victim has been left long to them, no less than twenty 

 have been found within a single fish. And the manner in 

 which the entrance is eflEected is not less remarkable than their 

 conduct when within the body of their prey. It is not by 

 boring a hole like the Sea Lamprey, nor by tearing the outward 

 surface like many other fishes, but a passage is accomplished 

 through the gills, so that the victim bears little mark of the 

 injury until the skin is found to contain nothing but the bones; 

 (an eflfeet sometimes produced also by the depredations of a 

 multitude of sessile-eyed crustaceans.) 



This fish is particular in the choice of the ground on which 

 it lives; which is not that which is sandy; but it gives a 

 preference of what is of clay or mud, and usually in deep 

 water; as from thirty even up to seven hundred fathoms. It 

 is said to move into a less depth in winter, but it never comes 

 near the shore. The appearance of this fish is sufficient to shew 

 that its movements are slow; and if placed in water it lies at 

 the bottom as if dead; but Avhen stirred to exertion it swims 

 for a time like an Eel, but always at the bottom; and it 

 cannot be made to rise above it. 



The spawn has been found enlai-ged in February, and also 

 in July; and Ekstrom thinks that they breed throughout the 

 summer; but the number of grains is few, and no more than 

 twelve have been found enlarged at one time in the ovary, 

 which is attached to the right side of the intestine. A remarkable 

 part of the character of this fish is the enormovis quantity of 

 slime which is produced from its pores, and which in a state 

 of liberty must tend to preserve it from some injurious influences. 

 A single individual that was placed in a quantity of water 

 equal to from three to four cubic feet, was found to fill it with 

 this slime so entirely, that the whole could be lifted out with 

 a stick in a single sheet. 



The example we describe was in length fifteen inches and a 

 hcdf, which is the largest on record, and two inches round 

 where largest, which was about three inches from the snout; 

 the body soft, flaccid, round until near the tail, when it becomes 



